January 26, (THEWILL) – The Nigeria Police Force has revealed that the widow of late MKO Abiola, Prof. Zainab Duke-Abiola, will still be prosecuted despite her defamation suit against the IGP.
The human rights activist was alleged to have assaulted her orderly, Teju Moses.
According to the force’s Spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, in a statement on Wednesday, Prof. Abiola will still face the wrath of the law as she still has a case to answer in court.
Police had arrested Prof. Abiola and her domestic staff for allegedly brutalising her orderly, who is a police inspector. She was arrested after pictures showing a female police officer with a bruised face appeared on social media.
They were arraigned before a magistrate court in Wuse Zone 6, Abuja over criminal conspiracy, causing criminal hurt without provocation, an attempt to commit culpable homicide and an intentional insult to cause a breach of trust.
Duke-Abiola in turn instituted a N100 billion defamation suit against the NPF and Usman Baba, Inspector General of Police.
In the suit filed before a Federal High Court in Abuja, Zainab alleged that the Police framed her.
She revealed that the incident she is being blamed for didn’t take place as there are CCTV cameras all over the street surrounding her to debunk the claim.
In the statement, the Police said the recent allegations made by Zainab are spurious and unnecessary and that the next hearing of the case has been scheduled for February 1 at High Court 16, Zuba, Abuja.
“The suspects have been charged with the offences of criminal conspiracy, attempt to commit culpable homicide, voluntarily causing hurt without provocation, and assault to deter public servant from discharge of his duty amongst others,” the statement reads.
“The recent media row by the suspect is, therefore, unnecessary as the matter has not been concluded in court.
“It is similarly pertinent to note that the spurious allegations recently made in the news hold no water.
“The Nigeria Police reposes confidence in the judiciary believing that the Courts will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that justice is done in the extant case,” the statement reads.
